Friday February 22 - Siem Reap (Angkor)

Our day begins with a bicycle ride through Siem Reap and some rural areas to the Angkor Thom temple site.  Ken is a regular bike rider, but I haven’t ridden one in probably 40 years.  The local inhabitants are greatly entertained as I wobble along the road.  We survive the bike ride to Angkor Thom, and I vow never again to use the phrase, ‘It’s just like riding a bike.’ 

Ken (on right) and me at Angkor Thom

The guide starts us at Angkor Thom because it is usually less busy than Angkor Wat in the morning.  The area outside the temple is crowded with tour busses, cars, bicycles and tuk-tuks (open air transportation vehicles).  The popularity of the site is obvious. 

 

 

Angkor Thom - Picture taken by our guide
who kenew how to line up the shot.

During the time the Khmer Rouge ruled Cambodia, there was fighting in the temple areas.  Some damage was done, and during that time efforts to restore the temples was put on hold.  The restoration resumed in the later 1980s.  We see some bullet holes from the fighting.

 

Temple at Angkor Wat with bullet holes in wall

 

At the beginning of our visit to Angkor Thom, a young couple decides to eat their breakfast.  A monkey decides he wants it instead.  The monkey doesn’t share.

 

Hungry Temple Monkey

Our guide provides us some history of the temple.  It was built in the late 12^th century by king Jayavarman VII.  It combines Hindu and Buddhist elements.  A later king, Jayavarman VIII changed the Buddha images by adding a third eye.

 At Angkor Thom

 

 Carving with third eye

 

At Angkor Thom

 



We learn the narrow, steep stairs are designed so when people climb them, they are in a supplicant posture.  One has to climb bent over, using hands and feet.  In deference to tourists, several areas now have wooden steps built over the originals.  The wooden steps are also intended to protect the original stone steps.

Me climbing down the steep (original) steps

When I was there in the 1960s, there were large colonies of bats occupying the temples.  There was a strong odor of urine then.  Now, the area is relatively free of bats and the odor has disappeared.

In one of the structures, our guide tells us a venomous snake had fallen on him from the ceiling a few weeks earlier.  We spend a lot of time studying ceilings after learning this.

Our day continues with a visit to the more famous Angkor Wat. This complex was started in the early 12^th century as a Hindu temple.  Later, it became a Buddhist temple.  Today, the restoration efforts are ongoing.  Foreign organizations are heavily involved, although the Cambodian government is generally billed for the cost. 

 

 

 

 View of Angkor Wat

 Angkor Wat and its reflection

More of Angkor Wat

 

Our guide asks if we want to see the sunset at Angkor Wat.  He tells us we would need to be there around 3:00, even though the sun doesn’t set until after 6:00.  Since we are going to be there at sunrise the next morning, we opt out of the sunset viewing.

In the heat of the afternoon, we go back to the hotel and make use of the swimming pool.  In the evening, we arrange for a tuk-tuk to take us to the Old Market in downtown Siem Reap for dinner.  Our guide had told us earlier that instead of ‘tuk-tuk’, the Cambodians prefer to use the term ‘motor trailer’.  We ask the hotel desk clerk to summon a motor trailer.  Receiving a blank stare in response, we ask for a tuk-tuk.  The term motor trailer doesn’t seem to have made it to the general population.
 

Ken and me in tuk-tuk in Siem Reap

When we get downtown, we look at the menus at several restaurants.  We also look at which ones have people eating.  We settle on the Khmer Kitchen, and have a nice Cambodian dinner.  Afterwards, we wander the Old Market and the Night Market.  This is definitely an area designed with tourists in mind.  After a little wandering, it’s back to the hotel by tuk-tuk.